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The Best Marine LED Spreader Lights for Every Types of Boats

Written by J. Harvey / Fact checked by S. Numbers

Boaters would agree that the deck is one of the most important parts of a boat. It’s where you stay when docking your boat. The best marine LED spreader lights can light up the whole deck so you can work safely and easier. If you wonder how to get them, here are some important points to take note of so you can have a worthy purchase.

• Brightness and Angle of Illumination

The brightness of marine spreader lights is what every buyer looks for. It’s based on the light output that can be measured by lumens. A thousand or more lumens are what you can depend on. The number of LED bulbs inside the light also makes a difference in the brightness.

Some spreader lights include reflector cups, which are usually made of shiny aluminum. These cups maximize the brightness and make the light bounce. However, check out for the right brightness as excessive light can be blinding. The light angle is important too, and it should be around 50 to 170 degrees.

If you want a floodlight, you have to find a light that has a wider beam as this means wide coverage. Opt for something with a narrow beam if you would like to have a spotlight .

• Versatility

When boat spreader lights are versatile, they can be found in various applications. Some are even added on the off-road vehicles. This description also means that there are different mounting options. Some have a movable design as the bracket can be moved up and down for the beam direction that you prefer.

• Waterproofing and Durability

Waterproofing is essential for marine lights as they are exposed to a harsh marine environment. IP67 or IP68 ratings are expected to block water from getting into the lights. This matter has something to do with the casing’s durability. The lights should be protected from corrosion, rust, discoloration, and other kinds of damages. Some go through salt spray testing to ensure durability and a long lifespan.

• Trouble-free Installation

Who doesn’t want to skip the separate purchase of necessary hardware? A complete set LED spreader light means convenience as you don’t need to search for what you need to finish the installation. Apart from not spending more money, you can save time and effort if the light fits into your existing light mount.

These features are found in the following items. Pros and cons are also laid out so you can choose the one that’s best for you.

• One-year warranty
• Enhances visibility

• Waterproof and dust-proof
• Very bright and clean-looking
• Suitable in various applications

• Cuts through the water
• Broad-distributed light beam
• Can commit to long-term service

Table of Contents

1. EXZEIT Waterproof LED Boat Lights

2. wfpower 2pcs boat light, 3. exzeit waterproof led boat lights, 4. lumitec caprera2 led spreader and deck flood lights, 5. wave one marine dual color led spreader light, 6. kawell k5-5118 slim led work light bar, 7. jiawill dual color marine led spreader, factors to consider when choosing marine led spreader lights, how do i install marine led spreader lights, what is the difference between a spreader light and a flood light, will the marine led spreader get hot or generate heat, top 7 marine led spreader light reviews.

These are the most suitable LED spreader lights for me as they guide me with the entire docking process. I have them on my pontoon and fishing boat. Since they have a universal fit, you can add them to any other vessel. Others use these even for tractor cabs and heavy-duty vehicles. You may also see them in construction sites, camping, and emergency use.

I’m fascinated that they’re super bright for enhancing visibility when I go night fishing and hunting. Based on their abilities, spearfishing at night is productive. It’s not surprising as they cover 120 degrees of illumination. LED lights are the superior choice because they draw less energy.

In terms of durability, these are also spectacular due to the aluminum alloy housing. The material promises sturdiness, which liberates me from worrying about rust and corrosion. Hence, these lights have shown robustness against the harsh marine environment as well as bad weather conditions. Even a saltwater environment can’t weaken them.

Their durability is proven by a one-year replacement warranty. But I think I do not need it as they’ve shown greatness in both brightness and sturdiness. The installation didn’t give me a hard time as I was able to complete it in five minutes.

• Has universal fit so it’s on various kinds of vessel and vehicles
• Enhances visibility with 120 degrees illumination
• Durable because of aluminum alloy housing
• Can withstand rust, corrosion, saltwater environment, and bad weather conditions
• Has one-year replacement warranty
• Better to replace the powder-coated or painted U-shaped spreader light mounting bracket

I don’t want to waste my money on incandescent lights that burst after a short while. The awesome description convinced me to buy these lights and to my delight, it’s not just a bluff. I can say it’s worth every penny. First and foremost, they’re very bright and docking at night is no longer a struggle. The brightness is clean-looking and nice. I wish I had bought them earlier to avoid spending so much money.

I also place a pair of these lights on my fishing tower. One faces downward and the other is in the straight position for projecting the illumination to the front. I was fascinated that my neighbor who’s in a rescue team also uses WFPOWER lights in the boats at work. In effect, they are suitable for various applications. Besides vehicles, they’re used in heavy equipment, military, mining, and more.

These LED spreader lights for boats have a sturdy construction that makes them last for years. I understand why there’s an ample amount of light because of the reflector cups. Finding their abilities the most favorable since they are waterproof, anti-corrosion, rust-proof, and dust-proof. Even though they are surrounded by salt air most of the time, these lights are bare of corrosion.

The challenging part in having these lights is the installation, especially for those who have big hands. The washers and nuts may be too tiny for some but I have some techniques to ease things out. I hold those hardware parts for the slot while adding the bolts.

• The light is very bright, nice, and clean-looking
• Have a sturdy construction that can last for years
• Waterproof, anti-corrosion, rust-proof, and dust-proof
• Remains tough even surrounded by salt air
• Has universal flush mount design
• The bolts and washers are too tiny for those who have big hands

I feel lucky in finding this pair of LED lights . They’re better than what I had before. The previous spreader lights were so bright in the center while the outer part was dim. As you can imagine, it was unpleasant. I can’t help but admire these LED boat spreader lights as the flood is evenly distributed.

This is also the perfect example of a floodlight because it can illuminate almost all areas where you mount it. The broad beam light seems impossible! It’s a great aid during docking and going fishing or hunting at night. When the crack of dawn comes, it’s also helpful to see things around me while crossing the waters. It can even cut through the water to show you trees or stumps and other obstructions along the way.

The housing of these LED lights is terrific as well. It’s the reason why it can commit to long-term service. I’m not pestered by rust or corrosion as it’s not easily damaged. Amazingly, it remains tough against the harsh environment. Since I have used it many times, I can testify to the authenticity of its waterproof ability. Hence, it’s for marine use without a doubt.

• Has evenly, a broad distributed light beam
• A perfect example of floodlight as it illuminates all areas
• Cuts through the water to let you see things under it
• Waterproof and tough in facing a harsh environment
• Includes stainless steel mounting parts
• Need more time when working on bolts using a wrench

I knew that these Lumitec spreader lights were of high quality from the moment I laid my eyes on them. I chose them to replace a light from the same company that lasted for a decade. They’re functional as they’re super bright with even and wide coverage.

They are dual-colored, delivering blue and white lights. I like how I can easily control the dimming mode. Just a quick flip of the switch and I can put them in a dimmed state. Not flipping the switch quickly will lead you to max lumen setting.

I have them on my 20-feet center console and they shine like the ability of two halogen bulbs. They are compact and work as T top spreader lights. I mounted them on the aft and forward sections. Installation is pretty simple and you can accomplish it in no time.

You’ll be impressed to see the illumination, which is similar to having headlights. Nevertheless, they are gentle to the eyes and you won’t be distracted by the brightness. That’s why they make night fishing productive. But if you want to have daylight illumination, you need to mount more than one light.

• Functional and super bright with even, wide coverage
• Dual colored and can switch to light output and dim mode
• Pretty simple installation
• Compact with the brightness that is gentle to the eyes
• Withstands salt water and rigorous environments
• Has IP67 waterproof rating and 3-year warranty
• Need to use more than one light to create a daylight illumination

This is my favorite boat light so far. Why not? I’m amazed by its ability to give off white light and change into a soft blue hue. But I must say that I like the blue light the most. It depends on your preference as the white light is perfect too because you can’t see any yellowing. Although it has a dual function, it draws out less energy and doesn’t overheat.

Another thing that made me happy about this product is its price. It has a brightness similar to its expensive counterparts. Expect a floodlight on your deck that aids the dock effectively. In my case, I use it as spreader lights for T top, and there are two lights behind the tower.

Moreover, it has a high waterproof rating and it’s for real based on my observations. It’s even submersible but I choose to mount it in my boat. Due to its high quality, it can last for a long time. I’m a witness to how it survives saltwater and UV rays. There are other essential parts included when purchasing this light. They are stainless steel hardware and hex wrench you can use for adjustments.

• Can give off white and blue lights
• Draws less energy and doesn’t overheat
• With the brightness of a floodlight
• Has a high waterproof rating
• Can survive salt water and UV rays
• Easy retrofit installation with free hardware and hex wrench
• Delay when switching of light color in a matter of seconds

The supreme brightness coming from this marine LED light bar is impressive. I was in awe to see its visibility even on sunny days. Apart from brightness, I like the color temperature as well. The LED effects are blended with some warmth. Once you mount it high, the light floods in a broad scope and even distribution.

The lens surface causes the great light transmission that’s enhanced by the deep reflector cup. You may see this light bar in numerous vehicles but it’s suitable as sailboat spreader lights too. While it holds up against the abuse of off-road riding and some highway riding, it can also live through the harshness of marine use and bad weather. Thanks to its aluminum alloy casing!

Due to the casing, this light becomes waterproof, quake-proof, and dust-proof. Furthermore, I don’t overthink about corrosion and rust. These are the reasons that allow it to last for years. It’s indeed durable and strong because it’s supported by a one-year warranty and a 2-month service refund.

With its wonderful abilities, it can take the roles of a reverse light, back-up light, running light, garden light, auxiliary lamp, and more.

• Has supreme brightness that’s even visible on sunny days
• Light has a broad scope and even distribution
• Lives through the harshness of marine use and bad weather
• Waterproof, quake-proof, dust-proof and anti-corrosive
• Durable with a one-year warranty and 2-month service refund
• In various applications
• Extra work to line up the nuts and screws

I’ve tried several mountable marine lights and salt spreader lights but I’m only pleased with this product. It has the features that I need to sustain visibility on my deck. Since it’s LED, it appears very bright but consumes less energy. Even with frequent sailing, no issues have bothered me. I have two lights in my boat and they serve well as docking lights.

There are color combination options, such as blue and white as well as blue and red. Naturally, you’ll get two lights in a single purchase but both of them can start working after one-time installation. Despite color variations, all of them are super bright as there are six pieces of LED. I get sufficient light from it because of the 60-degree beam that is the same as boat flood lights.

The entire construction of this spreader light is outstanding. The aluminum alloy housing can stay tough even exposed to bad weather conditions and the marine environment. Even the stainless steel mounting brackets are superb. They’re not just the painted steel that corrodes and flakes off after using them a few times.

• Very bright but consumes less energy with a 60-degree beam
• No issues arise despite frequent use
• Has two color combinations to choose from
• Has outstanding construction
• Stays tough even exposed to bad weather conditions and marine environment
• Not demanding installation with quality parts
• Some RF noise after installation

You’ll see different LED spreader lights if you look for them in stores. Many of them bear unique features, shapes, sizes, and functions. You may fail to tell their uniqueness when you only look at the appearance. To improve your perception regarding this marine item, get to know the following types:

• Deck light or halogen spreader
• Spreader light or octane LED tower
• LED mini lightbar
• Deck light or deck spreader
• Vertical rail mount
• Horizontal rail mount
• Marine LED flood lights and spreader lights
• Adjustable or fixed LED spreader lights for boats

Benefits of using LED spreader lights

LED spreader lights are mainly practical, useful, and beneficial. Every user would be happier to know the other perks from using them.

• They’re energy-efficient as they consume less energy than other types of lights.
• Since they’re versatile, you can find them in outdoor and indoor use. In addition, they’re suitable for water vessels and vehicles.
• Installation of spreader lights is easy.
• They can deliver an ample amount of light which is essential to any purpose. Using them is one way of preventing collisions and accidents.
• They are items that are used conveniently and safely even at night.
• Generally, they’re made of durable and solid housing with nice heat dissipation. This is for long-term usage.
• There’s no need for bulb replacement from time to time due to their long life span. Initially, you may think they’re expensive. But if you calculate the price with the length of service, you’ll find out that they’re economical.

Some drawbacks:

• Installation of spreader lights is not the same all the time. Various models and brands come with a specific design. So, installing some of them can be tricky.
• Bright or dim lights can cause eye fatigue. It’s all in your hands if you allow this adverse effect or not because it will only happen if you look at the lights directly for a long time.

• Determine the height distance by holding the light to the bar.
• Then, remove the batteries when you dry run the wires. This is a step before cutting them and you must leave 12 inches for each edge. Make sure to use marine wires to curtail corrosion and saltwater switches.
• When mounting the bracket, do it with a metal drill bit. You’re free to do it horizontally or vertically and just make sure that you securely tighten it. Next, you can run the wires from the light to the power source. This part also includes linking and switching on the edges of the LED light wires.

To ensure that moisture can’t get into the lights, you have to use heat shrink connectors. These can be easily found in marine shops or online stores.

• When you’re done connecting the wires, link the battery to the light with utmost care before you try on the switch. You’ll see the light burn if the polarity is correct. Once everything works as expected, you can gain the illumination that you need. However, don’t look at this light directly as your eyes can be irritated or impaired.

Both spreader light and flood light are popular but there are differences between them. Floodlights are typically mounted on the console that is beside the navigation system. On the other hand, spreader lights are located at the sailboat mast. Things change in recent years and a spreader light is just installed in any part of the boat. That’s why it’s sometimes viewed as a flood light.

The notion that LEDs found in spreader lights don’t generate heat is a misconception. Just like other types of light, LEDs do generate heat. When diodes release light, some of them are converted to heat.

Traditional lights produce heat through IR or infrared radiation. It’s the reason why these bulbs get hot quickly. But it’s different with LED lights since they can operate even with low watts. This is an implication that less heat is produced. Moreover, they will be cooler if you put them straight up or down.

When you put them sideways, you have to ensure that the operating temperature is within the normal range. Typically, 95% of energy is converted into light while 5% becomes heat in a LED light. Therefore, LEDs generate heat but not as much as other lights.

The best marine LED spreader lights have become renowned in the boating industry because of their low amp draw, super brightness, and extended lifespan. The durable casing delivers a robust construction that makes these lights invulnerable to the marine environment and bad weather conditions. With all these qualities, docking and other boating tasks become possible even in the dark.

“I am James Harvey – founder of Boating Basics Online. It is established with the drive to help out first-time boaters, which are those desiring to explore their way through the water. So if you are new to boating, start from here with me. “

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Spreader Light Test

Leds lead test field of 10 spreader and deck lights..

Sailors often have a love-hate relationship with spreader lights. On one hand, they can turn a dark deck into broad daylight, making whatever task is at hand easier to accomplish. But this abundance of illumination causes pupils to constrict and spoils night vision. Photopic (cone-based) vision dominates in daylight, while scotopic (rod-based) vision is the eyes response to darkness. It takes 30 to 45 minutes for eyes to fully adjust to the latter. If youre the helmsperson, overly bright or misdirected spreader lights can be a big problem.

Photos by Ralph Naranjo

The upside of spreader/deck lights is the reassuring bubble of glow that surrounds the boat. The downside is the pitch-black abyss that extends just beyond the perimeter of the deck. Prior to turning on the boats spreader light(s), the helmsman can usually discern shapes in the dark, see the horizon, and has a good chance of spotting other boats running lights in time to take evasive action. Unfortunately, when lots of light hits the deck, all of those important visual cues to collision avoidance tend to disappear.

In the last decade or so, marine light housings have changed, and a light emitting diode (LED) revolution is in full play. These are two of the reasons we decided to take a fresh look at deck illumination and the options available. In this round of spreader/deck light testing, weve taken a close look at lamp design, manufacturing approaches, and how each unit works. Weve bench tested each product and looked at how the light beam behaves at simulated spreader heights. Brightness has been measured, field of coverage quantified, and the current consumption tracked.

We found that too much light can be as much a detriment as too little, and that theres a fine art to illuminating the area from the mast step to the bowsprit, while keeping the helmsmans night vision intact. LED lights offered the best lumens-per-watt ratio in our tests, and when it comes to good waterproof longevity, we found that housings and brackets do matter.

The good old days of seeing a pair of chrome-plated Perko sealed beams perched under the cross trees are gone. There was a lot to like about those venerable sources of even lighting, but what caused concern was the 10-amp draw they demanded when switched into action. Smaller, but only slightly more energy-efficient quartz halogen bulbs chased sealed beams from the waterfront. And as LEDs entered the picture-and proved that they do a much better job of turning electrical energy into light, run cooler, last longer, and give a lighter, more compact deck illumination-the evolution became a revolution.

What We Tested The Doctor LED crew, based in Seattle, has been making marine LED lights and replacement bulbs for some time. The two products they sent us were the Kevin, an inline, four LED single-point, pivoting deck light, and the DaveX3, a low-profile, submersible puck-style light. From Forespar, a Southern California maker of a variety of marine products, we tested a cost-effective pair of mast-mounted deck lighting products: the ML-1 and ML-2. The lamps have injection-molded plastic housing and conform to the shape of the leading edge of the spar. Hella Marine, which is a worldwide marine lighting specialist headquartered in New Zealand, submitted its Sea Hawk light for the test. The light has a 12-LED array and a polyamide lens. From Scandvik Marine, a Florida manufacturer of a range of marine products, we tested a four-LED flush-mount light and a four-LED spreader light.

The high-tech LED lighting and safety product company Misea Group markets the Signal Mate line of LED lights. All of their deck illumination lamps are based on LED lighting that provides even, highly directable illumination. We tested several Signal Mate lights: two spreader-mounted lamps, one projecting a white beam and the other a red; a combo bow and deck light that has a 3-nautical-mile rating; and a standalone mast-mount deck light.

As a side test, we checked out a generic set of LED mini bullet lights that we picked up at a boat show. The small, energy efficient, bell-shaped lights are stainless-steel and adjustable, but the wiring requires that extra holes be drilled into the spar. We found that these little lamps behaved like a dim flashlight, providing enough discernment to get a foredeck job done while having the least impact on night vision, and using only 0.1 amps at 12.6 volts DC. Testing determined that rather than deck lights, the compact bullet lights would serve well in wet lockers and other spots where a small, water-resistant, wired light fixture is desired, so we decided not include them in the roundup.

Some of the test lights are adjustable (see Value Guide), but adjustability in a spreader light isn’t that big of a plus, in our opinion. Wed prefer to mount them at a fixed angle rather than risk them being redirected by a flailing halyard.

Dr. LED Dr. LEDs Kevin and DaveX3 lights offered lots of light per watt, delivered even illumination through a wide voltage spectrum, and the lamp housings are marine quality.

The four-LED Kevin provided wide-area illumination and topped our intensity scale. The 0.7 amps at 12.6 volts was just a little higher in current appetite than other similarly configured deck lights. The Kevin has lots in common with the Scandvik unit we tested. Their performance, color temperature, beam width, current demand, and minimal heat generation were both superior. However, the T-shaped mount is likely to snag errant lines, and it would be up to the boat owner to come up with a better bracket arrangement. The Kevin runs about $153 and comes with a one-year warranty. The model is set to be upgraded in 2014, according to Dr. LED.

The DaveX3 is a small, sealed dome light thats built to ISO 8846 standards and belongs underwater, and thats precisely why we kept it in the deck light mix-a sailboat at sea is as close to being underwater as you can get. Testers appreciated that its polycarbonate body is corrosion resistant and galvanically inert.

The three-LED DaveX3 is meant to be water cooled for continuous-duty operation, but as a flare up light for intermittent sail-trim checks, it can be mounted on the foredeck, directing its beam upward toward the mast and sail. Keep in mind that when looking aloft while hoisting a sail, one stares into spreader/deck lights, and thats why a foredeck-mounted light makes lots of sense.

At $180, the DaveX3 waterproof light runs at the mid to high end of the test fields price spectrum, and it comes with a one-year warranty.

Bottom line: Those looking for power to light up a large area should take a close look at the Kevin lamp. The ruggedly built DaveX3 is an ultra waterproof unit that will survive a wet foredeck and is handy for short-term headsail trim checking or as a flare up light for others to visually pinpoint your vessels location.

Forespar The design features of the two Forespar lights we tested, the ML-1 and ML-2, make it obvious that they were engineered by a company that understands spars and rigging. Their injection-molded plastic housings are immune to electrolysis and can be easily mounted on most masts, using self-tapping screwed or pop rivets.

The ML-1 unit is solely for deck illumination, and its sealed quartz-halogen bulb and efficient reflector lens do a good job of keeping the beam aimed at the mast base and foredeck. It was the most current hungry of all we tested (1.8 amps at 12.6 volts DC), but if the light is not used for continuous duty, the total power consumed will remain small.

The ML-2 unit uses the same deck light as its sibling, but it also has a 2-nautical-mile, U.S. Coast Guard-certified, long-filament festoon bulb steaming light. Its a handy combo and at $75, its priced very close to the $66 ML-1. In tests, it consumed 1.2 amps at 12.6 volts DC. Both come with a three-year warranty.

Bottom line: The Forespar ML-2 is an appealing product for the price-point shopper not looking for LED energy efficiency. Its our Budget Buy. The ML-1 is a compact, lightweight light, and its easy to install on smaller spars.

Hella The Hella Sea Hawks polyamide lens and 12-LED array provide an even beam with good brightness that effectively and evenly illuminates the deck. The absolute brightness was a little lower than the four-LED inline units from Dr. LED and Scandvik, but when looking aloft, the Hella lamp was not as blinding as the others.

The Hellas current consumption (0.3 amps at 12.6 volts DC) was half that of the slightly brighter Scandvik and Dr. LED units. Its not surprising to see that New Zealand-based Hella had a solution to the halyard snagging issue testers noted in other inline multi-LED deck lamps. The Kiwis are consummate sailors, and their full-width, 316 stainless-steel bracket keeps halyards from snagging the lamp as if it were a horn cleat. Priced in the middle of the pack, the $136 Hella comes with an impressive five-year warranty.

Bottom line: Hellas Sea Hawk edged out the competition with its light weight (8.8 ounces) and snag-free mount design. Its our Best Choice. The even illumination and brightness, without a central hot spot, earned high ratings.

Scandvik The two Scandvik lights we tested-one flush-mount, one bracket mount-are both well-made, well-engineered lamps that employ an inline four-LED design. Their illumination is excellent. When compared with lamps containing quartz-halogen bulbs, Scandviks deck lights deliver equivalent brightness and a radius of illumination at about 20-percent of the formers power usage. We measured a 0.6-amp current demand at 12.6 volts DC and were pleased by the wide circular beam. Initially, we assumed that there would be more of an ellipse shape beam, but by optically setting up the lens and LED configuration, the inline housing still delivers a circular beam.

Scandviks deck lights are energy-efficient, effective light sources, but the bracket mount is less than ideal. It consists of a single stainless-steel toggled machine screw that allows one-axis tilting. The problem is the brackets potential to snag a halyard and change the lights tilt angle, resulting in light being redirected toward the cockpit instead of the foredeck. A bit of creative mount fabrication under a radar bracket would solve the halyard snag factor. In short, high marks are given to the flush-mount lamp, but bracket mounting on sailboats will be an issue.

The flush- and bracket-mounted lights run $90 each and come with a one-year warranty.

Bottom line: Efficient lighting in a well-made housing, but the T-shaped bracket and non-flush mount is a halyard snagger.

Signal Mate The energy-efficient, mast-mounted LED deck light is aligned with the spars centerline, rather than raked forward to send more illumination to the foredeck. Fortunately, the optical ability of the light to deliver sharp cutoff edges was good, and the 0.3 amps volts DC current demand (at 12.6 volts DC) delivered effective illumination. At $289, the Signal Mate deck light was the most expensive standalone light in the test.

Signal Mates three-LED spreader light also focused a similar, medium-radius white beam, using the same current demand. The red version of the LED lamp delivered a narrower beam, and testers found looking aloft toward the red light to be very visually disconcerting. While we like the idea of preserving night vision, we had some concern about beating to windward and having the heel angle cause the red LED to be misconstrued as a navigation light. The spreader lights, at $199, are more expensive than the other brands of lights we tested.

The combo bow and deck light was a very efficient package. The 3-nautical-mile steaming light consumed only 0.2 amps, and the low-profile housing fits closely to the spar. It runs $689.

The Lexan and anodized aluminum Signal Mate lights come with three-year warranties.

Bottom line: Signal Mates well-made LED combo light is a good choice for larger vessels. The deck light and spreader lights provide even illumination, using very little current.

Conclusion Brilliance is in the eye of the beholder, and determining how bright deck lighting should be is a balance of competing interests. We maintain a strong pitch for the maintenance of night vision, and those who chase solutions with technology may want to install two different intensity spreader/deck lights. It was a tough task to come up with a winner among the inline LED lamps. Dr. LEDs Dave X3 put out the brightest, broadest beam. Scandvik put out nearly as much light, using a pinch less current. But Hella, which offered a little less brightness, proved to be a current miser, and nosed out the competitors with its sensible bracket design and lighter weight.

Signal Mates combo lamp is an expensive but well-made piece of kit. We will do a longer-term test on the red LED version of Signal Mates spreader light and report our findings in the future.

When all is said and done, LED efficiency needs to be thought of in a duty-cycle context, and if your spreader/deck light(s) are seldom used, and used for only short duration, LED efficiency may not justify the added expense. Running lights are another story-they remain on all night, and for passagemakers, LED lights can add up to significant power savings.

But when it comes to infrequent, short-term deck illumination, perhaps the Forespar ML-2 makes the most sense. You can compromise short-term by putting up with bright but inefficient deck lighting, and investing in a good LED masthead tricolor lamp for the time you are under sail and tapping into the battery bank reserve.

• Signal Mate

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

What model of the Hella light did you test?

I have bought Lumitec LED Spreader Light. A little pricey, but functionally it’s the cat’s wazoo! Great stuff. Two color, both dimmable, on a standard on/off circuit. I replaced two old halogen spreaders with just one of these and it’s great.

Water can be fun in the dark but I also have to ensure my safety. Great article. Most folks have to learn this the hard way.

Boaters would agree that the deck is one of the most important parts of a boat. It’s where I stay when docking my boat. The best marine LED spreader lights can light up the whole deck so I can work safely and easier.

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Best Marine LED Spreader Lights

The pos­si­bil­i­ties for light­ing up your boat are vir­tu­al­ly end­less. From a sim­ple light bar to a more elab­o­rate light­ing sys­tem, there are plen­ty of options avail­able. LED spread­er lights are one of the most pop­u­lar choic­es for boat own­ers, and for good rea­son. They pro­vide more than just illu­mi­na­tion, they also enhance the look of your boat. In this arti­cle, we’ll dis­cuss them and the fea­tures to look for when choos­ing one.

Table of Con­tents

The best marine LED spread­er lights are those that are designed for marine use, mean­ing they are water­proof, shock­proof, and cor­ro­sion-resis­tant. They should also be bright, long-last­ing, and ener­gy-effi­cient, pro­vid­ing a con­sis­tent and reli­able light source. They are great for light­ing up larg­er areas, such as decks and docks, and they can be adjust­ed to pro­vide a wide range of light­ing angles. They are gen­er­al­ly more afford­able than tra­di­tion­al halo­gen lights.

• Seasense LED Deck Spread­er Light : Known for its high-inten­si­ty out­put and low pow­er draw. It’s resis­tant to cor­ro­sion and water­proof, mak­ing it suit­able for the marine envi­ron­ment.
• T‑Toplights LED Spread­er Light : This light is designed to be mount­ed on the T‑top of a boat. It’s ener­gy-effi­cient, has high out­put, and comes with a durable hous­ing that’s resis­tant to cor­ro­sion.
• Jiaw­ill Cree LED Marine Spread­er Light : This light uses Cree LED tech­nol­o­gy, ensur­ing high bright­ness with low­er pow­er con­sump­tion. It’s also designed with stain­less steel mount­ing hard­ware and has a lifes­pan of over 30,000 hours.
• North Amer­i­can Sig­nal LEDQ375‑A Class 1 LED High Pow­er Warn­ing Light : This light has a high out­put, is water­proof, and is designed to with­stand harsh envi­ron­ments. It’s per­fect for use on marine ves­sels and comes with a five-year war­ran­ty.
• Part­sam 2pcs Water­proof Boat Marine Lights : These lights are not only bright but are also water­proof, ensur­ing they can with­stand harsh marine con­di­tions. They are easy to install and have a low pow­er draw.

When select­ing marine LED spread­er lights, it is impor­tant to con­sid­er the area that needs to be illu­mi­nat­ed. LEDs are avail­able in a range of wattages, so it is impor­tant to choose the right one for the job. Addi­tion­al­ly, look for lights with adjustable mount­ing brack­ets and beam angles, so you can cus­tomize the light’s spread and posi­tion. You should also con­sid­er the col­or tem­per­a­ture of the light, as well as its beam width, lumens, and CRI rat­ing. Final­ly, be sure to check the war­ran­ty and tech­ni­cal sup­port offered by the man­u­fac­tur­er.

What are Marine LED Spreader Lights?

They are a type of boat light­ing that is typ­i­cal­ly used to light up larg­er areas. They are designed to spread the light in mul­ti­ple direc­tions, pro­vid­ing more illu­mi­na­tion to the sur­round­ing area. LED spread­er lights are typ­i­cal­ly mount­ed on the deck of the boat, and can be used for both func­tion­al light­ing and dec­o­ra­tive light­ing.

Benefits of Marine LED Spreader Lights

There are sev­er­al ben­e­fits to installing LED spread­er lights on your boat. They are more effi­cient than oth­er types of light­ing, which means they use less ener­gy and last longer. They also pro­duce less heat, mak­ing them safer to use in marine envi­ron­ments.

• Increased vis­i­bil­i­ty and safe­ty : pro­duce a bright, white light that helps to illu­mi­nate the area around a boat, mak­ing it eas­i­er to see obsta­cles and oth­er boats.
• Improved effi­cien­cy : use sig­nif­i­cant­ly less ener­gy than tra­di­tion­al halo­gen bulbs, which helps to reduce pow­er con­sump­tion and save fuel.
• Longer life : much longer life than tra­di­tion­al halo­gen bulbs, with some esti­mat­ed to last up to 50,000 hours.
• Low main­te­nance : require very lit­tle main­te­nance, mak­ing them an excel­lent choice for marine appli­ca­tions.
• Dura­bil­i­ty : high­ly durable and resis­tant to cor­ro­sion, mak­ing them suit­able for even the harsh­est marine envi­ron­ments.

They can be used to light up decks, docks, or oth­er areas of your boat. They are also much brighter than tra­di­tion­al halo­gen lights, allow­ing you to see bet­ter in low-light con­di­tions.

Types of Marine LED Spreader Lights

There are sev­er­al dif­fer­ent types of marine LED spread­er lights avail­able. The most pop­u­lar type is the LED flood light, which is designed to spread light over a large area. They are anoth­er pop­u­lar option, as they are designed to con­cen­trate light in a spe­cif­ic area. There are also LED strip lights, which are great for pro­vid­ing accent light­ing in small spaces.

• Deck Lights : These are spread­er lights specif­i­cal­ly designed to illu­mi­nate the deck of the boat. They’re great for night fish­ing, dock­ing, or any oth­er activ­i­ties that require a well-lit deck.
• T‑Top Lights : These spread­er lights are designed to be mount­ed on the T‑top of a boat. They cast a wide beam of light, illu­mi­nat­ing a large area beneath them.
• Under­wa­ter Lights : While not tra­di­tion­al­ly con­sid­ered spread­er lights, under­wa­ter LED lights serve a sim­i­lar pur­pose, illu­mi­nat­ing the water beneath and around the boat. They’re par­tic­u­lar­ly pop­u­lar on sport fish­ing boats.
• Dock­ing Lights : These spread­er lights are designed to aid in dock­ing. They pro­vide illu­mi­na­tion for­ward of the boat, help­ing the pilot nav­i­gate in low-light con­di­tions.
• Flood­lights : These are high-inten­si­ty LED lights designed to flood a large area with light. They’re often used on larg­er boats where a sig­nif­i­cant amount of illu­mi­na­tion is required.

Marine LED spread er lights are light fix­tures that are designed to pro­vide a wide area of illu­mi­na­tion in the marine envi­ron­ment . They are typ­i­cal­ly mount­ed on the deck or else­where on the out­side of the boat and can be used to pro­vide gen­er­al light­ing , as well as improve vis­i­bil­i­ty in fog or dark­ness . Marine LED spread er lights are typ­i­cal­ly avail­able in a vari­ety of sizes , watt ages , col­ors , and types , includ­ing spot lights , flood lights , and com­bi­na­tion lights . They are also designed to be high­ly durable and weath­er resis­tant , mak­ing them an ide­al choice for bo aters look­ing to light up the night .

Features to Look For in Marine LED Spreader Lights

When shop­ping for marine LED spread­er lights, there are sev­er­al fea­tures to con­sid­er. It’s impor­tant to look for lights that are durable and water­proof, as they will be exposed to the ele­ments. Look for lights with adjustable mount­ing brack­ets, as this will allow you to cus­tomize the place­ment of the lights.

• Waterproof/Weatherproof Rat­ing : rat­ed IP68 or high­er, so they can with­stand the ele­ments of the sea.
• Lumens : pro­duce a high lumen out­put, so you can see clear­ly when nav­i­gat­ing in the dark.
• Dura­bil­i­ty : con­struct­ed from qual­i­ty mate­ri­als and are built to last.
• Adjusta­bil­i­ty : adjust­ed for wider or nar­row­er beams of light.
• Col­or Tem­per­a­ture : offer a range of col­or tem­per­a­tures, so you can cus­tomize your light­ing to match your needs.
• Instal­la­tion : easy to install and require min­i­mal main­te­nance.

Also, con­sid­er the wattage of the lights, as this will deter­mine the bright­ness of the lights. If You need more pow­er read about led light bars .

Best Marine LED Spreader Lights in 2023

The best marine LED spread er lights for begin­ners depend on the size of the boat and the type of light­ing desired . Some impor­tant fac­tors to con­sid­er when choos­ing them  include bright­ness , beam angle , and col­or tem­per­a­ture . Addi­tion­al­ly , it is impor­tant to con­sid­er the pow­er require­ments of the LED spread er lights and whether the lights are water­proof . LED spread er lights are designed to be low - main ten­ance and ener­gy - effi­cient , so they are an ide­al choice for begin­ners .

Lumitec Caprera2 LED Flood Light

The Lumitec Caprera2 LED Flood Light is one of the most pop­u­lar marine LED spread­er lights on the mar­ket. This light is designed to be ener­gy effi­cient and long last­ing, and it pro­duces a bright, even light. The adjustable mount­ing brack­ets make it easy to cus­tomize the place­ment of the light, and it is also water­proof and cor­ro­sion resis­tant.

Aqua Signal Series 50 LED Spreader Light

The Aqua Sig­nal Series 50 LED Spread­er Light is a great option for those look­ing for a reli­able, high-qual­i­ty light. This light is designed to be ener­gy effi­cient, and it pro­duces a bright, even light. It is also water­proof and cor­ro­sion-resis­tant, mak­ing it ide­al for marine envi­ron­ments. The adjustable mount­ing brack­et makes it easy to cus­tomize the place­ment of the light.

CST Lighting D‑Series LED Flood Light

The CST Light­ing D‑Series LED Flood Light is an excel­lent option for those look­ing for a reli­able, bright light. This light pro­duces a bright, even light and is designed to be ener­gy effi­cient. It is also water­proof and cor­ro­sion-resis­tant, mak­ing it ide­al for marine envi­ron­ments. The adjustable mount­ing brack­et makes it easy to cus­tomize the place­ment of the light.

Vision X Superwhite LED Spreader Light

The Vision X Super­white LED Spread­er Light is an excel­lent option for those look­ing for a bright, reli­able light. This light is designed to be ener­gy effi­cient and long last­ing, and it pro­duces a bright, even light. The adjustable mount­ing brack­et makes it easy to cus­tomize the place­ment of the light, and it is also water­proof and cor­ro­sion-resis­tant.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Marine LED Spreader Lights

When pur­chas­ing a marine LED spread­er light, there are a few things to con­sid­er. You should make sure that the light is designed for marine use and is water­proof and cor­ro­sion resis­tant. You should also con­sid­er the wattage of the light, as this will deter­mine the bright­ness of the light.

• Bright­ness : The main pur­pose of spread­er lights is to illu­mi­nate a large area, so it’s cru­cial to choose lights that are bright enough for your needs. Bright­ness in LED lights is often mea­sured in lumens, so look for this spec­i­fi­ca­tion when com­par­ing dif­fer­ent options.
• Dura­bil­i­ty : Marine envi­ron­ments can be harsh, so it’s essen­tial to choose lights that are stur­dy and built to last. Look for lights that are water-resis­tant, cor­ro­sion-resis­tant, and built with high-qual­i­ty mate­ri­als.
• Ener­gy Con­sump­tion : LED lights are known for their ener­gy effi­cien­cy, but there can still be some vari­a­tion between dif­fer­ent mod­els. Check the pow­er usage of any lights you’re con­sid­er­ing, espe­cial­ly if you’ll be using them for extend­ed peri­ods.
• Beam Angle : The beam angle of a light refers to the spread of light it pro­vides. A wider beam angle will cov­er a larg­er area but may be less intense, while a nar­row­er beam will be more focused and intense.
• Instal­la­tion and Mount­ing : Con­sid­er how the lights will be installed on your boat. Some lights come with all nec­es­sary mount­ing hard­ware, while oth­ers might require you to pur­chase addi­tion­al acces­sories. Also con­sid­er the size and shape of your boat and where the lights can be installed.
• Price : As with any pur­chase, price is a con­sid­er­a­tion. More expen­sive lights often offer bet­ter per­for­mance and dura­bil­i­ty, but there are also many afford­able options that can still meet your needs.

You should look for lights with adjustable mount­ing brack­ets, as this will allow you to cus­tomize the place­ment of the lights. You should con­sid­er the bud­get you have avail­able, as LED spread­er lights can vary in price.

What color LED lights are best for boats?

The best col­or LED lights for boats depend on the pur­pose of the lights. For nav­i­ga­tion, white lights are best because they pro­vide the most vis­i­bil­i­ty. For accent light­ing, blue or green lights are the most pop­u­lar choic­es. Red lights are often used as run­ning lights or to mark bound­aries.

The type of light­ing also mat­ters. LED strip lights are pop­u­lar for accent light­ing on boats because they are easy to install and pro­vide a wide range of col­ors. They are the best choice as they pro­vide a focused beam of light that can be seen from a dis­tance.

Installation

Installing marine LED spread­er lights is rel­a­tive­ly sim­ple. Most lights come with all the nec­es­sary hard­ware and instruc­tions for instal­la­tion. Before you begin, make sure to read the instruc­tions care­ful­ly and fol­low all safe­ty pre­cau­tions. If you are unsure of how to install the lights, it is best to con­sult a pro­fes­sion­al.

Care and Maintenance

To keep your marine LED spread­er lights in good work­ing con­di­tion, it is impor­tant to fol­low a few sim­ple main­te­nance tips. First, make sure to keep the lights clean and free of dirt and debris. You should also check the wiring and con­nec­tions reg­u­lar­ly, and make sure that they are tight and secure. Addi­tion­al­ly, you should inspect the lights for any dam­age or wear and tear. If you notice any issues, it is best to con­tact a pro­fes­sion­al to have the lights repaired or replaced.

Safety Tips

When using marine LED spread­er lights, it is impor­tant to fol­low a few safe­ty tips. First, make sure that the lights are installed prop­er­ly and secure­ly. Make sure to turn the lights off when not in use to avoid any poten­tial haz­ards. Keep the lights away from flam­ma­ble mate­ri­als, and nev­er leave the lights unat­tend­ed. Fol­low­ing these safe­ty tips will help ensure that your lights remain safe and secure.

What are the benefits of using marine LED spreader lights?

Marine LED spread­er lights offer many advan­tages. They are ener­gy-effi­cient, durable, and able to with­stand harsh marine envi­ron­ments. Their bright­ness can enhance vis­i­bil­i­ty on your boat, mak­ing it safer to nav­i­gate in low light con­di­tions. More­over, they have a longer lifes­pan com­pared to tra­di­tion­al light­ing options.

Are all marine LED spreader lights waterproof?

While most marine LED spread­er lights are designed to with­stand marine con­di­tions, not all of them may be ful­ly water­proof. It’s essen­tial to check the prod­uct spec­i­fi­ca­tions before mak­ing a pur­chase. Look for lights that are rat­ed as water­proof or water-resis­tant to ensure they can han­dle expo­sure to water.

How can I determine the brightness of a marine LED spreader light?

The bright­ness of LED lights is often mea­sured in lumens. The high­er the lumens, the brighter the light. When choos­ing a marine LED spread­er light, con­sid­er your spe­cif­ic light­ing needs based on the size of your boat and the typ­i­cal light­ing con­di­tions you nav­i­gate in.

Marine LED spread­er lights are a great way to light up your boat. They are more effi­cient than oth­er types of light­ing, and they pro­vide more illu­mi­na­tion in low-light con­di­tions. When shop­ping for marine LED spread­er lights, it’s impor­tant to con­sid­er the fea­tures and look for lights that are durable and water­proof. The Lumitec Caprera2 LED Flood Light, Aqua Sig­nal Series 50 LED Spread­er Light, CST Light­ing D‑Series LED Flood Light, and Vision X Super­white LED Spread­er Light are all great options.

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Dual Color LED Marine Spreader Light | IP68 | Stainless Hardware (Color Options)

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Dual Color IP68 Marine Grade Spreader Light

Fast & Free 2/3 Day Shipping Light Sold Individually (One Light Per Order)

Internal Driver | Stainless Hardware | Easy To Install & Upgrade Based in the USA (Florida) - all Wave One Marine products are designed, tested, and shipped in the U.S.

Our Dual Color IP68 Marine Grade Spreader Light

White OR Black Housing | Dual Color (White & Blue OR White & Red)

Internal Driver - Dual Color From Single Existing Switch (No Controller Needed)

Quickly Cycle (On / Off / On) Your Existing Switch To Choose Color

IP68 Rating - Tested Submersed In Saltwater For Over 1,000 Hours

All Stainless Hardware & Mounting Hardware Included (Long Hex Wrench Included For Adjustments)

Easy To Upgrade Existing Lighting (Use Original +/- Wire & Original Switch)

Stainless Bracket Is Pre-Installed On Light - Easy Installation / Upgrade

Our Wave One Marine dual color marine grade spreader light was designed through years of owning hundreds of boats that needed a better spreader light at a reasonable price. We designed this spreader light with all stainless brackets & hardware that is pre-assembled for easy installation. Our dual color light is an easy upgrade due to our internal driver technology. You can utilize your existing wiring (single +/- wire) and switch to toggle each color. Most importantly it’s designed to survive in harsh marine conditions. You can’t find a better dual color spreader light for your boat, rv, truck, car, or shop for the price.

Measurements / Specs:

6 White LED’s & 6 Accent LED’s

12 Volt (Input Range 9-32V DC)

Current Draw ([email protected]) | Power Consumption [email protected]

Operating Temperature -22F to 122F

LED Expected Life Of Over 25,000 Hours

Dimensions : 6.2” Wide, 1.65” Height, Depth 2.15” Without Bracket, Depth 3” With Bracket, Wire Length : 9” Approx

1,000 Lumen Approximate Light Output (Voltage Dependent)

Multiple Lights Can Be Wired Together And All Controlled With The Same Switch

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LED Super Spreader Light

Led super spreader™ light, blazing illumination turns night into day.

Flood your boat deck with bright and smooth illuminationto make low light or night fishing safer and easier.

• Five (5) Super High Intensity 1W LEDs
• 1150 Lumens of Light Output
• Great for new installations or replacing 55W Halogen Flood Lights
• Provide smooth, bright, even light to the entire boat deck
• Power consumption 80% lower than incandescent lights
• Die cast aluminum housing, powder coated white
• Optical grade PMMA lens
• Operating Voltage: 10-30V DC
• Color temperature: 6000K
• Completely sealed with waterproof rating: IP67
• Super long life up to30,000 hours (30% longer than competition)
• Housing Color: White
• Mounting Bracket and Hardware: 316 Stainless Steel
• Simple, single bolt installation

Customer Reviews

Excellent, very bright ,lights way out in front of boat, got 2 smaller on back , also excellent

Very bright light

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• Boat Lights

Gen3 Marine Dual Color LED Spreader Light

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• This Item: Gen3 Marine Dual Color LED Spreader Light $47.99 $34.99 $13.00 13 47.99
• Description
• Questions & Answers

Gen3 Marine Dual Color LED Spreader Light - Blue/White

Illuminate the areas around your boat with the Gen3 Marine Dual Color LED Spreader Light. The flood style beam points downward to light up decks, cabins, etc. to make it safer for passengers. With its aluminum alloy metal housing, this light has been built to last in harsh marine conditions. Gen3's spreader lights can be mounted anywhere, project a great amount of light, and feature a 50,000-hour lifespan. Includes mounting hardware and installation instructions.

• Dual color output
• White, aluminum alloy metal housing
• Two wire installation
• Internal color change switch
• Poly-carbonate lens
• IP68 Waterproof rating
• 1 Year warranty

Specifications:

• Input Voltage: 9 - 32V DC
• Current Draw: 0.66A @ 13.5V
• Total Power Consumption: 8.9W @ 13.5V
• Operating Temperature: -22°F - 122°F
• LED Lifetime: 50,000 Hours
• Dimensions: 6.2" W x 1.65" H x 2.15" Depth
• Weight: 0.7 lbs.

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Spreader light install

• Thread starter Seattle Scott
• Start date May 20, 2005
• Forums for All Owners
• Ask All Sailors

Seattle Scott

Since I need to replace my combo steaming/deck light that sits about 3 feet below the spreaders I thought I would install spreader-mounted deck lights while I am up there and just wire them into the deck light on the combo light. Now that I am waitng for the parts to be delivered, I wonder how I am going to be able to "fish" the wires into, then down three feet then out the mast, thru say 1/4 inch holes to connect to the combo deck light? Or should I drop the spreader light wire to the bottom of the mast and connect to the existing deck light run once the wires exist the mast in the bilge just above the keel step? Also, I plan on two spreader lights, so should I make the wire connection between the lights up at the spreaders, or again drop two wires down and out above the mast step in the bilge?What have all you "enlightened" folks done?  

Mel Elliott

Spreader lights Test first to make sure the wire is heavy enough to carry 2 bulbs. If it is, I would only run one set to the switch  

What we did On our Catalina I installed 2 spreader lights, disconnedcted the deck light from the combo light and wired the spreader lights to the deck light wire and used the common ground. Has worked great for 2 years.  

Hey Dick how and where did you run the wires? You connected at the combo light, but how did you get the spreader light wires fished out of the mast at the combo light? Did you do it with the mast up or down?  

Fish tape I put all new wires in my mast, both to the top of the mast and to the spreader lights. First I was going to use the old wires to pull the new ones up, but they were so old they broke. I ended up using an electrician's fish tape. I climbed the mast and put it down from the top, then pulled a small nylon line up the mast, with the fish tape, to use as a pull-rope. My hole was 5/8 inch though, to make room for a good quality grommet. I also left an extra pull rope at each level (mast-top and spreaders) just in case I need to drag any other wires up there at a later date.  

Morrie, same boat right the 37C? Can you give me a blow by blow on the light install and wire run. Wires through the speader and run on top or underneath? Connected to combo deck/streaming or not? 5/8 hole at spreaders (both sides or just in front of mast?) or where? Were the wires out of the mast before trying to run new wires up from the mast base?  

Blow by Blow Yes my boat is a 37C. First I drilled the four holes—two at the bottom of the mast (one was 5/8-inch and the other was one-inch), then one 5/8-inch hole just below the spreaders, and a one-inch hole at the top of the mast (the holes that were there were not big enough for grommets). I’ve re-wired my whole boat with Anchor Marine safety wire. It’s a two wire ‘romex-like’ insulated wire with one red and one yellow wire. It’s supposed to keep you from getting the black wire confused with the AC black wire. So I used 14/2 marine safety wire with an additional 14 awg red wire taped to the 14/2. I measured first then laid it out on the dock and taped it together with electrical tape every two feet or so. I ended up with two bundles of wire. One long enough to go from my DC panel to the top of the mast (with three wires, one yellow ground and two red hot wires). Then I had another 3 wire bundle long enough to go from the panel to the spreader level. So I ended up having one ground and two hot wires at mast top and the same at spreader level. When I had these two bundles on the dock I added a piece of coax to the mast-top bundle. It was wasted, too. The size that this bundle ended up being was why I needed the one-inch holes. After that I put 3 wire ties, right next to each other, pointing out in three different directions, about every 3 feet on both bundles, leaving the tails on the wire ties. This was something I read somewhere to keep the wires from slapping the inside of the mast. It basically hold the wired away from the sides of the mast. It took a lot of work to get all that stuffed through my holes, but it has worked beautifully. Even in the nastiest weather when the boat is just bucking, no wires slapping the inside of the mast keeping me awake (I live on my boat). O.K., now to get all this stuff inside the mast. I first went mast top and put an electricians fish tape in the top hole, from the top down, and used a little hanger wire hook to reach in the bottom hole and grab the end of the fish tape and pull it out the hole. I then fastened two pieces of 1/4-inch nylon line to the end of the fish tape and drug them up the mast. Then I did the same thing at spreader level. This put one pull rope at each level to use now and one left at each level for later possible use. I could probably even use them to pull up a halyard if needed.One at a time I wound the wire bundles back on to a wire spool and found a piece of pipe that would fit through the hole in the spool. The pipe was long enough to put across the top of lifelines on the foredeck so that the spools would spin. I went up the mast with a wire bundle tied to my belt and my girlfriend helping to feed wire off the spools, then hooked the wire bundles to the pull rope at the top. I fed the wires through the hole on top while my girlfriend went back and forth between the deck (feeding me wire) and the bottom of the mast (pulling on the pull rope). We did this first at mast top then at spreader level. There was a little bit of yelling, but not much I swear. I made a rain drip loop where the wire comes out of the mast. I slipped a piece of nylon reinforced plastic water hose over the wire bundles for chafe protection and used a big hose clamp that goes all the way around the mast for tension relief, to secure the wire to the mast.I now have enough wire for the new LED tri-color/anchor light I put at mast top plus the steaming light and spreader/deck lights at spreader level. I went sailing for a month and a half in some mean Hawaiian winter weather in the channels between the islands last winter and everything held just fine.Hope this helps.  

You are a champ Morrie Thanks  

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